The Lesson of the GEICO Caveman

by EngineerScotty on May 18, 2009 9:55 AM PDT Comment 30 comments

It's been a good week for the GEICO Caveman, known to some as Pau Gasol. (Bonus points: Can you tell them apart?)

Not only was he named to the 3rd-Team All NBA, put his 21 points and 18 boards, and total domination of Luis Scola in game 7, helped the Lakers finally put down the pesky Rockets. Gasol was also an All-Star this year.

Not bad for a guy who for many years, had the "potential" monkey on his back. His time in Memphis--where his Grizzlies got swept a couple of times in the playoffs, he missed a season after being injured in international competition, and his heart was routinely questioned after he signed a max deal in 2004 but failed to lead the Grizzlies to the promised land--is important to consider and understand.

Why?

Some of the criticisms against Gasol--a guy who is now an eight-year veteran of the league--are frequently leveled against OUR current power forward. Not tough enough. Doesn't play D. Second-rate player--good enough to be a starter but not a star. Disappears. Obviously, some of the complaints don't apply to LMA, as he hasn't (yet) signed a max deal--but some do.

Which is kinda funny when you consider that LaMarcus generally does very well head-to-head against el cavernícola.

So what is the difference between Gasol now--and Gasol a few years ago?

* Experience

* Better teammates.

LMA today has better teammates than Gasol ever enjoyed while on the Mississippi. But experience is the big separator between the two. Talent? I doubt it--I expect Aldridge to surpass Gasol in a couple years.

But it is important to draw lessons from the career of Pau Gasol--it hasn't always been smooth sailing for the Spaniard.

Basketball, after all, isn't something which is so easy that even a caveman can do it.

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Comments

Pau is the top one

And his brother is the bottom one?

by Sabonis4Ever on May 18, 2009 10:04 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I've forgotten.

But it’s scary to think that Pau is the good-looking one in the family.

I have not yet begun to defile myself.

by EngineerScotty on May 18, 2009 10:11 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Teams has a lot to do with perception

Pau has been a good player for a long time but you can’t get out of the first round with out a good set of teammates.

If you are on the L*kers the national media will treat you better then if you are on a small team. His career numbers are all about the same when he was in Memphis and when he was in a L*ker uniform.
06’-07’ Pau Fg% .589 blocks 2.1 Turnovers 2.7 Rebounds 9.8 Ast. 3.4 Points 20.8
08’-09’ Pau Fg% .567 blocks 1 Turnovers 1.9 Rebounds 9.6 Ast. 3.5 Points 18.9
in very similar minutes 36.3 to 37 min respectively

As for Lamarcus he is not on the L*kers so he isn’t getting the hype that a player like Bynum is getting for doing less then what Lamarcus has already done. But Lamarcus does need to take it down low more and rely less on his jumper.

"Knowledge will get you from A to B. Creativity will get you anywhere." Einstein

by Garden of ODEN on May 18, 2009 10:36 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Yep

If Oden were in LA people would be fawning ALL OVER HIM. Saying to give him time and what a hard worker he is and what a character guy and look how he locked down Yao and do you realize what a good rebounder he is? What’s more his fouls would probably average at LEAST 1 less a game. Playing in LA, Chicago or Boston does wonders for one’s appreciation in the media and with the refs.

"Death is not final," Gita says. "If any man thinks that he slays, and if another thinks that he is slain, neither knows the truth. The Eternal in man cannot kill: the Eternal in man cannot die. The soul in man is neither born nor does it die. Weapons cannot cut it; fire cannot burn it; water cannot drown it.

The Bhagavad Gita

by Idog1976 on May 18, 2009 12:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

case in point

injury prone Andrew Bynum.

he is magically still the second coming, and is NOT injury prone, just bad luck. Meanwhile LA is happy that Greg is “totally injury prone!”

by GreatOden'sRaven on May 18, 2009 1:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Perception has changed with Gasol, but he was always one heck of a player, people just didn't realize it

Indeed, if we compare Pau’s rookie year (age 21) to LMA’s 3rd year (age 23), we find that LMA had more O-rebs and more steals, and did a better job limiting turnovers. Pau was better at pretty much everything else you can do on a basketball court (ie TS%, Assist rate, D-reb rate, overall rebound rate, block rate).

Given that in 3 years, LMA still hasn’t had a better season than Pau’s rookie year, I’d say its unlikely he’ll surpass Pau. Not impossible by any means, but unlikely.

by jksnake99 on May 18, 2009 10:55 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

those are valid stats

but in your opinion how much do you think that Pau being the “man” in Memphis has to do with his great numbers? Maybe comparing usage might be helpful in comparing them?

Just eyeballing LMA and Pau through out the years I think that LMA might never have the low post savvy of Gasol, but he can really open up the floor and is developing a decent post game, while at the same time showing flashes of brilliance on the defensive end that I have never seen out of Gasol. To be totally fair it is easy to dismiss Pau by just watching him play as he has little polish to his game, but he is still extremely effective.

Life is exhausting when you are this stupid.

by jonestr on May 18, 2009 11:30 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pau had a few seasons in Memphis with significantly higher usage than LMA's current usage...

… and Pau had better advanced stats.

Now, in LA, Pau’s usage is lower than LMA’s… and Pau still has better advanced stats.

Pau’s the better player, by quite a bit.

by jksnake99 on May 18, 2009 12:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm curious

what about age based comparisons? Didn’t Pau play professional basketball for quite a bit prior to his “rookie” year in the NBA? I actually felt Rudy was slightly over rated as a three point shooter due to his “rookie” status. DOn’t get me wrong I love Rudy and I respect Pau but calling them rookies is a bit of a misnomer. Same will be true with Rubio next year.

The Bhagavad Gita

by Idog1976 on May 18, 2009 12:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

he has been a pro

since he was 16, but he still came into the league at a pretty young age like 20 or 21 so he was a bit more of a rookie than Rudy. I wouldnt be so quick to dismiss Rudy’s shooting as he seems to have a natural sense of the NBA three point line even though he was used to playing the international 3pt line. Normally this translates into lots of long 2s, but Rudy took right to it.

I think it is fair to bristle at the idea of guys like Scola or Garbajosa getting labeled as rookies, but Rudy is about the age of a Hansborough or Dempsey so I dont think it is that much of a stretch to call him a rookie.

Life is exhausting when you are this stupid.

by jonestr on May 18, 2009 12:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pau came into the league essentially the same age LMA did.

by jksnake99 on May 18, 2009 1:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I know he had better advanced stats

but I am bit leery of PER and WS as I think they are minute, but not pace, adjusted, which always worries me, but they may not be the case. Although, I dont think that the Brown/Fratello coached memphis teams played at a very fast pace so it may be a wash in this case.

Life is exhausting when you are this stupid.

by jonestr on May 18, 2009 12:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

PER is pace adjusted

I think WS is also.

by jksnake99 on May 18, 2009 1:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

you are right

Life is exhausting when you are this stupid.

by jonestr on May 18, 2009 1:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lma the beneficiary of slashers dishing

The was a comment in another post remarking on Dwight Howards early dunks yesterday (game 7 vs Boston) coming off of dihes form guards driving the lane. The commentor suggested that ODen should base his offense off that tactic. Well There is no reason couldn’t pad his offensive stats that way too. Lma has great abilitiy to get a good shot when in single coverage. But Gasol gets easier points now that he play s alongside K@be. Roy should give Lma the same benefit. We need to add the wirnkle of the drive and dish as every bigman will get easy points. I’d like to see 20pts in the paint every game next year off that tactic. OF course that means we’d need a second guard who can slash to the rim (I’m looking at you Bayless).

by NWfan on May 18, 2009 12:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agree with Jake

We should learn a lot about LMA in the next year or two.

Blazer Fan

by leeroyjenkins on May 18, 2009 11:41 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

LaMarcus plays a different style of game

which obviously lends itself to worse numbers. Pau is not a great shooter past the free throw line and has an amazing touch around the rim. Excellent finisher. Because of this he tends to be near the basket when the ball goes up and that in turn would lead to higher rebounds. I dont think comparing the two is apples to apples, but I see what your saying. I think LMA can be equal to Gasol and if he is that is one hell of a great step forward.

by GreatOden'sRaven on May 18, 2009 11:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Conclusion:

Pao is a good player and looks like a caveman. Got it.

by T$ 225 on May 18, 2009 11:01 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs

El cavernícola.

Made me laugh.

Of all the things that can be expressed in the printed word – love, hate, fear, joy – true humor is the one that is the most difficult of all. Sarcasm, for example, is an art of delicate subtlety. Yet too many people wield it as a bulldozer – loud, smelly, ugly, and destructive – and think they are being funny.

by T Darkstar on May 18, 2009 11:07 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Just for some perspecitive

I watched Turkeyglue play quite a bit his first couple of years and yeah you could see he had some talent but was nothing to write home about.He has improved every year since and look at him now,oh wait you might not want to look. The point being that some guys are as good as their going to get after 4 or 5 years and some guys continue to improve

by southern oregon on May 18, 2009 2:18 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Turkeyglue?

I bet Hedo would love THAT one.

Careful, though, you might get BEdge banned in Turkey…

I have not yet begun to defile myself.

by EngineerScotty on May 18, 2009 2:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kobe now kicks his butt if he tries to play too soft :)

Memphis fans are pretty happy with his brother, who fits their current style better as an inside presence and of course comes at a younger age and much lower cost.

The Lakers front court IS pretty soft as even JVG said recently in his live comments and other commentary. It couldn’t match up with the Celtics incl. a healthy KG + Powe and Perkins last year. The Blazers gave it some trouble this year. The Rockets did. And it could still have a lot of problems against the Nuggets and ultimately the Cavs.

The series against the Rockets was NOT a good series for Gasol. His free throw problems resurfaced that already cost Spain a title in 2007. He couldn’t dominate smaller players and Luis Scola on offense or defense. Lakers fans already started asking if they gave away the wrong Gasol brother. But he always was and will be a very talented player just like LaMarcus even if he doesn’t dominate games. A team needs such a player as a #2 or #3.

by Norsktroll on May 18, 2009 2:47 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I think he has improved in his lack of toughness

He can dominate in his own style. I think 21 and 18 in a game 7 is domination no? Even if the opposition was nearly a foot shorter.

Blazers+Blazersedge=Mind Blown

by TappedPotential on May 18, 2009 5:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pau looks sad in that photo

“Mom-ma, why did you forget the “L” on the end of my name? It has caused me ever so much confusion throughout my life."

;-o

by tominhawaii on May 18, 2009 3:23 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Pau Gasoll?

I have not yet begun to defile myself.

by EngineerScotty on May 18, 2009 3:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I really love Pau but

…Damn he is soft. He just has no killer instinct at all. He is the most mediocre great player there is.

"We Believe" - Rudy Fernandez

by TheGreatMon on May 18, 2009 6:51 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

The most mediocre great player there is.

I like it. It might fit Lamar Odom better, but it sure works for Pau too.

I know less than half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.

by haildablazer on May 18, 2009 9:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think Pau is soft...... I think he plays soft D sometimes...

… to avoid PF. A lot of times Pau does not risk in D to avoid being penalized with PF.
If someone can find such a statistic, for a big man, I’m pretty sure he is one of bests in the league with a lower ratio of PF/Min, this no-risk defense lets hiem play a ton of minutes.

Free Sergio!

by ABSF on May 19, 2009 8:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

People say that Brandon Roy looks like a caveman.

The Kings have the best bench I’ve seen. There are easily 14 guys on this team good enough for every bench in the league. Now if we could only get some starters, I’d totally jizz in my pants.

Kings fan

by dyshooter182 on May 18, 2009 8:50 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs